LACE Housing honours local hero

15 September 2017

LACE Housing recently held a very successful opening event for their new scheme of 17 retirement apartments and a holiday home at Scarbrough Avenue, Skegness. The £2m development has been named Chapman Court in honour of the late Ron Chapman, a former lifeboatman.

Ron was an experienced lifeboat crew member who served Skegness RNLI for 39 years, and the naming coincides with RNLI being LACE Housing’s chosen charity for 2017. Members of Ron’s family were in attendance at the official opening ceremony on 12 September.

Chapman Court is LACE Housing's first new development in Skegness for 20 years

Members of the late Ron Chapman's family attended the opening ceromony

The scheme was made possible thanks to grant funding which was secured and administered by Blue Skies Consortium. Development consultancy POD provided project management.

It’s LACE Housing’s first new scheme in Skegness for 20 years, and replaced a former care home which had been derelict for two years. Situated close to the seafront and within easy reach of a wide range of local amenities, the accommodation is in an ideal location for residents and holidaymakers alike to access the historic seaside town.

As part of the unveiling, Chief Executive of LACE Housing Nick Chambers welcomed more than 70 visitors to the site, as well as representatives from funders East Lindsey District Council, the Homes and Communities Agency and the Herbert William Sollitt Memorial Trust.

Ron Chapman’s son Ray said: “It’s a massive honour to have our family name attached to this development and to have so many of the Skegness lifeboat team in attendance today. Working on the lifeboat was the biggest part of dad’s life, I just wish he could have seen this, it makes me so proud.”

David Dexter, Vice Chair of the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership, which provided a grant to help fund the new development, said: “I was very pleased to be able to join LACE Housing in celebrating the opening of this development.

“The grant was part of our Unlocking Rural Housing programme, which we developed because we recognise the importance of housing to the local economy, and the contribution which housing makes to growth.”

The design and construction of the new premises was carried out by Lincolnshire construction company Lindum. Lindum has worked in partnership with LACE Housing on other projects, and has gained a detailed understanding of its residents’ specific requirements. This knowledge and experience enabled Lindum to deliver quality, bespoke accommodation designed to meet the needs of older people.

Simon Gregory, Managing Director of Lindum Construction, added: “We are delighted to have played a major role in the creation of this purpose-built accommodation which will be enjoyed by residents for years to come, and which has made a lasting improvement to the area.

“We are also pleased to have used many local tradespeople, subcontractors and suppliers during the construction work, which benefits the local economy.”

Nick said: “Not only is this new scheme innovative, but it was made possible by a unique collaboration of interested parties and I’m delighted to have been able to incorporate our first ever holiday apartment within it.

“We recognised a need for holiday accommodation along the east coast following a consultation with our residents, many of whom have fond memories of daytrips and family holidays to Skegness.

“We have already welcomed our first guest and have received several bookings so it is already proving popular among Lincolnshire residents looking for a seaside retreat.

“Good housing promotes good health and wellbeing, and we would like to thank the people of Skegness, who have taken to this project wholeheartedly.”

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